Box of Chocolates

Wow! Mark soiled us last night at the Rays vs Stankees game. We were just seven rows back from the dug out. We had a great time and now we have a new standard for ball games.

Well AT&T had no problems cutting off the phone service to our rental on Saturday at 10 AM sharp, but took their time getting us hooked back up with phone and internet at the new house. So much has happened since I posted last where to start? Wednesday, July 15th Mom flew into town! YEAH, nana is here, nana is here! Thursday, July 16th Just hanging out with Nana. Friday, July 17th I am another year older! I am officially 30 something. Not 30, just 30 something. We went to Build-A-Bear for my birthday. Funny thing is I had a blast even though it was for the kids. It was for the kids right? That whole process with three kids all at once was well CRAZY fun and we didn't come home with one bear. We came home with a bunny, horse and dog? I also have to say my husband is a hoot. I told him not to get me anything for my birthday. He did just buy me the house of my dreams. Anyway, he bought me a Jack Johnson CD and put it on my seat in the van with a note that said " s

Things are slow going at the house. The laundry room will get done, but not how or when we expected. In almost every home project things happen you didn't expect, like a new 80 gallon water heater. It was in the laundry room and Mark decided to move it and well we just bought a new one. The laundry room was my idea so I can't say it was a bad idea. I still think it is a great idea just had no idea what I was saying a the time. Plumbing ran all up and down that wall and side to side like spaghetti in a bowl. Of course you don't know this until you take down the drywall. Have I told you Mark hates plumbing? He is a DIY mad man. Okay imagine between the two black drain pipes will be a door. So the dryer vent (big tube in the middle of the mess) had to be moved. Again not easy! Mark figured it out. Had to take out some wood spacers via the ceiling. (already missing, so not a big deal) He got a new tool so all is good right? Before After There is a difference a

Electrician was out today to upgrade the electric box, run a wire via attic through an upstairs closet, through the floor into the garage for Mark. Mark is very happy. Who knew all he needed was his own electric box in the garage. Tomorrow they will be back to hard wire smoke detectors in all bedrooms. Hope they remember there all those wire go. I'm not sure it matters. I think they just hook them up and then tell you what room is what. The new box is in now. Nathan liked all the wires hanging down and I always have a scrapbook in mind, so I took a picture. Have camera will travel. I asked the electrician to change all the outlets and light switches and he told me it would be $68 an hour plus parts and that it would take two guys four hours to do the work! WHAT? I said, "Are you sure it would take that long?" He said, "You have a big house ma'am." He basically was very nice and saved me $300 + dollars because Mark can do it and we will. None of

P lans get you into things but you must work your way out. ~ Will Rogers This is so the truth with our new house. I am so thankful that Mark got to go to work today. I am so tired. I needed a break. I don't even care to go to the house today. Things just take so long. Mark hates plumbing, but he hates spending money on things he can do. So this weekend he replaced a toilet and kitchen faucet. Started to redo the guts of the girls toilet and filled the tank, flushed, and the water ended up all over the floor. Wrong part! It was Sunday and Home Depot doesn't always have what you need so we had to wait until today to go to a plumbing store. Then there is the reason he started to do plumbing and not the laundry room as planned. Let me show you.... This bedroom wall shown shares a wall with the garage laundry room. My idea was to put in a door into the laundry room. This room is the only downstairs access to the pool and will never be used as a bedroom anyway. here is the p

Let me just say I have been waiting for us to close on the house to tell you this story. We officially closed yesterday and now have a new to us house. It is a silly story on so many levels, but it is my story that I want to tell. Lets go back to the beginning of the year or about that time. We knew moving long distance was going to be almost inevitable. I started to price houses in many different cities where Mark was applying for jobs. We just wanted to see what we should be prepared for. Our house was already on the market and it was a matter of time before we would have to move somewhere USA. I remember finding this house and telling my scrap buddies one night about my most recent find. I was in awe of this house. It was more than I ever wanted but what I always daydreamed about. I thought of the price was remarkably low. I remember showing my car pool friend the specs and the price was just crazy low compared to Florida. I commented to my mom that if it was meant to be